Polanco working on third-base skills

After Placido Polanco signed a three-year, $18 million contact to return to the Phillies in early December, his focus turned to relearning an old position.

This off-season has been a crash course in third-base fundamentals for Polanco, who will make the transition from second back to third.

"Without a doubt," Polanco said yesterday of his off-season third-base cram session before signing autographs at Citizens Bank Park.

Polanco won a Gold Glove at second base with Detroit in 2009, but the Phillies signed the 34-year-old to play a position he hasn't regularly manned since the 2002 season. He is confident in his abilities at third because he has spent time there before, but Polanco has made a point to do extra preparation in the winter.

That has mostly consisted of taking ground balls at third base all off-season. Polanco has focused on long tossing to build up his arm strength before spring training begins.

Polanco said he was not concerned with his arm strength - instead he wants to stretch out his arm in preparation for making the longer throws across the diamond.

"The strength is there," Polanco said. "You're either strong or you're not. It's the fact that if you're playing second, it's such a short throw. You have to stretch it out at third base. It's a longer throw. It's a matter of getting used to it and stretching."

He can expect to be busy at third base, considering the player he is replacing, Pedro Feliz, had 437 total chances in the field last season, which was tied for third in the major leagues among third basemen. Most of the Phillies' hurlers are ground-ball pitchers, including new acquisition Roy Halladay.

Not to say Polanco wasn't active in the field at second base with the Tigers. In 2009, Polanco had 731 total chances, fourth in the majors among second basemen.

Polanco said he didn't need to sell the Phillies on his ability to play third base.

"It seemed like they were convinced already," Polanco said. "I didn't tell them, 'Here, I can play third.' They knew because I played third here, played third in college and in St. Louis. They knew what I can do at third base, and I guess that's good enough for them."

Now the Phillies will ask Polanco to be a stabilizing force in the lineup. His workout routine has consisted of hitting and lifting weights with teammate and South Florida neighbor Raul Ibanez.

Last week, manager Charlie Manuel said Polanco would hit second, the spot in the lineup he has occupied for most of his career. He hit .285 with 10 home runs and 72 RBIs last season.

"If they said I would be the cleanup hitter, I wasn't going to try and hit home runs," Polanco said. "I'm going to do what I do, which is put the ball in play and take good at-bats, go deep in the count."